Low height suction cleaner



Oct. 19, 1954 w. A. HUMPHREY LOW HEIGHT SUCTION CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 26, 1951 INVENTOR. \/Vzrren A.Humphrey BY w 5W ATTORNEY.

grillig Oct. 19, 1954 w. A. HUMPHREY LOW HEIGHT SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 26, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR /Vrren A. Hu mphrey 5:' l ATTORNEY.

Oct. 19, 1954 w. A. HuMPHRr-:Y 2,691,791

LOW HEIGHT SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 26, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Nbr-ren A.Humphrqy BY l ATTORNEY.

W. A. HUM PH REY LOW HEIGHT SUCTION CLEANER oct. 19, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 26, 1951 M RM Y. mv. m mm mm .WH im .M mf T Oct. 19, 1954 w. A. HUMPHREY Low HEIGHT sucTIoN CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 26, 1951 INVENTOR. Warren A.Humphrey BY l ATTORNEY.

Oct. 19, 1954 w. A. HUMPHREY 2,691,791

LOW HEIGHT SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 26, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. 9

l INVENTOH. Varren A. liana/19127?,a y

y? SMM ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 19, 1954 LOW HEIGHT SUCTION CLEANER Warren A. Humphrey, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a,

corporation of Ohio Application May 26, 1951, Serial No. 228,387

My invention relates to the art of suction cleaning apparatuses and particularly to a suction cleaning apparatus characterized by extraordinarily low height, simple top center oonversion for oiT-the-iioor cleaning arranged to be entirely clear of driving mechanisms for the fan and rotary surface agitating device, a simple supporting mechanism inter-connected with the converting mechanism so as to raise the nozzle to an elevated, inoperative position when the apparatus is conditioned for oiT-the-floor cleaning, and an arrangement by which all the major components of the apparatus are substantially in side-by-side relation so that the height of the cleaner is determined by the minimum height oi the largest element thereof.

Itis a particular object of my invention to provide a suction cleaning apparatus of the above described character characterized by a main frame member which may be a casting, having a series of upwardly and downwardly openingr wells and channels which denne or house all the operative elements of the cleaner.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a suction cleaner having a main frame as developed in the preceding paragraph which cooperates with a flat topped hood member serving to cover all the elements of the cleaner and to cooperate with certain of the parts of the main frame to complete the elements thereof.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a suction cleaning apparatus having a suction nozzle at its front end, a drive motor positioned for rotation on a Vertical axis immediately to the rear of the nozzle and a high-speed suction ian positioned for rotation on a vertical axis immediately to the rear of the electric motor with the ian and motor axes lying on the longitudinal center line of the apparatus,

It is a further object oi my invention to pro- Vide a suction cleaning apparatus having a suction nozzle incorporating a rotary surface agitating device, a motor positioned rearwardly of the nozzle and a high-speed suction fan. positioned rearwardly of the motor, with nozzle to fan air ducts positioned adjacent the top wall of the cleaner structure, and a drive belt mechanism for driving the fan and agitator from the motor extending along the bottom side of the machine along the longitudinal center line oi the apparatus.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a suction cleaner as characterized by the provision of air ducts rising from the nozzle adjacent the top portion of the machine on oppo- 17 Claims. (Cl. 15-324) site sides of the motor and joining at the rear of the structure over the ian eye at a point convenient for top center insertion of a converting tool.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a side elevational View in cross section illustrating an apparatus embodying my invention but omitting the supporting structure and certain other parts for clarity in illustration;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure l but also omitting the supporting structure;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows but confined to frame structure to illustrate the construction thereof without interference from mechanical parts;

Figure 4 is a View taken along the line 5-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and inverted to line up corresponding sides of the figure with Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction oi the arrows and inverted to line up corresponding sides of the gure with Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the apparatus illustrating the supporting structure and its adjusting mechanisms with a portion of the structure broken away to illustrate an inter-locking mechanism between a conversion cover and the supporting structure;

Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure 6 illustrating a converter inserted into the apparatus with the supporting structure in conversion position;

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a partial top plan view oi the apparatus shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 1G is a sectional view taken on the line lll-Iii of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The cleaner comprises a main frame member, preferably a casting, illustrated most clearly in Figures 1 to 5, indicated generally by the reference character l and provided with front, side and rear walls 2, 3, ll and 5, respectively, which merge into a top wall member indicated generally by the reference character 6. The iront wall 2 and the side walls 3 and 4 cooperate with a wall l extending generally parallel to the wall 2 in spaced relation thereto to dei-ine a suction nozzle and agitatorchamber 8. The top wall 6 of the main casting defines the top wall of the nozzle chamber which has an open bottom in the usual manner. The wall i is provided with a central slot S to provide running space for a drive belt described hereinafter. The Wall 'l has upwardly and rearwardly sloped channel sections i i merging into the wall l at one end and into the top wall G adjacent a fan chamber to be described hereinafter. rI'he channel shaped sections i i define the bottom portion of air ducts i2 opening into the nozzle chamber 23. The top wall is provided with inverted channel shaped wall sections I4, see Figures 3 and l0, overlying the wall sections l and forming the upper portion of the air` ducts I2. The suction air ducts i2 open into the nozzle chamber 3 adjacent opposite ends thereof.

The top wall 6 of the main frame is interrupted rearwardly of the nozzle chamber 3 by a motor mounting well defined by a vertically extending chamber enclosing wall i merging into the Wall 'i and terminating in a bottom flange member l5 defining an opening i7 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The motor chamber defined by the wall i5 is divided by the longitudinal center line of the main frame.

The top wall ii or" the main frame is further interrupted rearwardly of the motor chamber by a vertical, volute shaped wall I9 defining a fan chamber. At the center of the machine, as shown in Figure l, the Walls l5 and i9 are common. The volute shaped wall id is non-continuous and terminates in vertical walls 2l and 22 piercing the rear wall 5 of the main casting dening the side walls of an exhaust outlet 23. The chamber defined by the wall i9 is closed at the bottom by a wall 25S forming the bottom of the fan chamber and the bottom portion oi the exhaust passageway 23.

The main frame i is also provided with a downwardly projecting wall 2t extending from the rear face of the wall l on opposite sides of the slot 9 to a point adjacent the rear of the motor chamber where the two sections of the wall 26 curve inwardly to approach each other and then extend rearwardly in parallel relation to the center line of the fan chamber where they join a half-round section, thus cooperating with the flange i5 and wall 24 to form a closed end tunnel extending from thewall I to a point rearwardly of the center line of the fan chamber.

A housing 2l, preferably of insulating material, encases an electric motor and seats in the chamber defined by the wall l5. The bottom portion of the housing 2 carries a metallic cup 28 dening a chamber for a motor Ventilating fan 29 and seating in the opening il in the Wall i6. A lower motor bearing St is secured in the cup 23 for supporting the armature and shaft of the motor. The housing 2l has a portion 3i housing the motor neld core 's2 and projecting beyond the confines of the motor chamber. The central portion of the wall (i, forming the upper wall of the nozzle 8, is depressed to accommodate the forwardly projecting field coil encasing section 3i of the housing 2?. The motor casing and its appurtenant structures may be secured to the main frame structure by any suitable means. ln the illustrated embodiment, the central portion of the top wall 6 over the nozzle is provided with bosses 3:3 having tapped holes therein and the bottom flange i@ of the motor chamber is also provided with a pair of tapped holes 35. The motor housing 2"! is provided with suitable projecting feet, not shown, having bolt holes to 4 coincide with the holes in the bosses 34 and the holes 35 to receive securing bolts.

The Ventilating chamber formed by the cup 2B housing the motor Ventilating fan 29 is provided with a discharge duct 31, see Figure 2, which, see Figure 4, is formed by a wall I6 and a bumped-up wall section 38. In this way, ventilating air discharges from the casing 21 to the underside of the main frame of the machine.

The bottom Wall 211 of the fan chamber is provided with an opening 39 through which an elongated bearing id extends. The bearing 40 is provided with a peripheral flange 4i resting in a cup i2 in the wall 2d and is secured thereto by suitable bolts 4&3. A fan shaft 44 is carried by the bearing structure iii! extending into the fan chamber a-nd supports a suitable centrifugal fan d5 which is secured to the shaft 44 by a nut 46. The fan 45 is positioned in the fan chamber to discharge through the duct 23.

A rotary brushing and agitating device 4T is supported in a known manner in the nozzle chamber 8 in position to engage a surface covering drawn up to the nozzle mouth by suction. The agitator 4l' is driven by a rubber belt 48 extending through the slot 9 in the wall 'l to engage around a small pulley 49 carried by the shaft of the drive motor. The motor shaft also carries a large pulley 5E) integral with the pulley i9 and hollow sc as to partially nest the motor bearing 3i). The fan shaft 44 is drivingly connectedV to the pulley 58 by means of a rubber belt 5I engaging a pulley 52 on the fan shaft 44.

A plate 54 extends around the lower edges of the front Wall 2, wall 'l and a portion of the side walls 3 and 4 defining the end walls of the nozzle chamber 8. The plate 54 donnes the nozzle lips for the cleaner and extends a short clistance rearwardly of the wall 'I engaging the lower edges of the side sections of Wall 26. The remaining portion of the belt tunnel encompassed by the wall 2S is closed by a plate 53 engaging the lower edges of the wall 2E and provided with a tab 55 engaging over the rearwardly extending portion of the member 54. The plate 53 is provided with a pair of laterally projecting side Wings 5S, see Figure 8, which are attached to the underside of the main casting by means of bolts 51.

The upper portion of the machine is closed by a hood or casing indicated generally by the reference character 5). This casing has a downwardly extending front wall 6i provided with an elongated air receiving opening and light transmitting opening 62. The lower edge of the front wall 6i engages in a complemental cutout section of the front Wall 2 of the main frame as shown in Figure l. The hood Si) extends over the entire main frame and has a downwardly projecting peripheral wall G3 at the rear engaging the upper edge of the main frame i at its rear portion. The hood 6G is provided with inverted channel sections forming the lateral side sections thereof. The channel sections 65 extend along opposite sides of the motor housing and motor receiving chamber to the front of the main frame overlying the forward sections of the air ducts i2 and the sections i4 of the main frame to continue the air ducts I2 rearwardly of the motor housing. Rearwardly of the motor housing, the Walls defining the air ducts i2 converge to a point overlying the center of the fan 45. The side walls defining the channel sections t5 engage in suitable channel sections E6 formed inthe top Wall 6 of the mainframe and are sealed therein by suitable gaskets or sealing compound indicated at E1. At the front of the machine, the channel sections B5 curve downwardly as shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7, following the contour of the forward section of the lower wall of the forward sections of the air ducts I2 so as to provide a smoothly curved air duct running from the upper portion of the nozzle chamber 8 to the plane of the top wall of the main frame, after which the air ducts extend along the top wall 6 of the main frame and converge at a point above the fan 45.

The downwardly curved front sections of the air ducts 65 leave the central portion of the hood projecting upwardly and forwardly at thefront of the machine to provide a lamp chamber 68 above the depressed portion of the wall 6 and forwardly of the motor field winding structure 32.

'Ihe chamber 68 will have a suitable dirt nder lamp, indicated herein merely with dotted lines at 59, positioned to direct light rays through the opening 62. The motor housing 2l is provided with a cut-out portion 'III facing the lamp chamber l68 so the Ventilating air may flow through the opening 62 over the lamp 59 and through the opening 'I0 over the eld stack, the motor, the armature and through the motor housing to the Ventilating fan 29. In this way, the heat generated by the lamp 69 and the electric motor is dissipated by heating the Ventilating air which discharges through the duct 31 to the underside of the machine.

The top wall of the fan chamber is covered by a plate 'I2 having a central opening I3 coinciding with the junction point of the air ducts I2 and forming the inlet eye for the fan 45. The plate l2 is provided with a plurality of projecting ears 'I4 which are secured to the top wall of the main frame by bolts "I5, The walls defining the portions of the air ducts above the fan are air sealed to the plate l2 by gaskets 72a.

The various sectional views contained in Figures 3 to 5 illustrate the manner in which the air duct forming sections 65 of the hood 60 gradually increase in height toward the rear of the machine until the hood 6i! is substantially fiat throughout its top extent.

The top wall of the hood -S is provided with an opening 'I9 over the junction point of the two air ducts I2 and immediately forwardly of the fan eye opening I3 in the plate T2. This opening is for the purpose of receiving a tool for converting the apparatus for off-the-floor cleaning. The opening 'I9 is placed in a slightly depressed portion 'IB of the hood 66 which receives a cover plate 'I1 for the opening 79 and permits the cover plate to lie flush with the top wall of the hood B. The cover plate 'il has latn erally extending side wings 'IB provided with rearwardly projecting arms {Si} which carry downwardly extending flanges 8I extending through suitable openings formed in the hood 60. The flanges 8l, see Figure 5, are pivotally mounted on studs 32 threaded into enlarged bosses S3 on the underside of the hood 60. When the cover plate Il is in the raised position, illustrated in Figure 7, a dusting tool converter, indicated at 84, may be inserted into the opening 1B. The lower end of the converter tool 84 is shaped to fit snugly in the opening 'I9 and to extend down to the top wall I3 of the main frame so as completely to cut off communication between the ducts I2 and the fan eye 53. The dusting tool. carries a suitable spring latch indicated generally at 85, adapted to extend through a latch opening 86 in the hood 50 just forwardlyof the junction point of the ducts I2. The spring latch is of a well-known manual pressure release type and serves to secure the dusting tool in operative position in the cleaner when such a device is utilized. rIhe top wall of the hood 6I) is provided with a depressed nger receiving portion 8l just forwardly of the opening 86 in order to permit the operator to insert a finger under the forward end of the cover 'I'I for the purpose of moving the same to the open position illustrated in Figure 7.

Referring now particularly to Figures 6 to 8, the underside of the main frame t beneath the fan chamber I9 is provided with a pair of downwardly projecting bosses 90 on opposite sides of the center line of the machine. These bosses are received within the legs of a U-shaped wheel supporting frame 9| which is channel-shaped in cross section. Pivot pins 92 extend through the side wall portion of each leg of the wheel supporting frame SI and the bosses 99 to secure the wheel frame to the main frame in pivotal relationship. A pair of spaced rear supporting wheels 93 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 94 carried by the rear portion of the frame 9|. Suitable compression springs 95 are mounted to bear between the frame ilI over the axle 94 and the underside of the fan chamber I9, thus tending to force the wheels s3 away from the main frame of the cleaner. The forward end of each leg of the U-shaped frame QI rigidly supports a stub-shaft 98 which carries a large wide tread front supporting wheel 9"! underlying-ah air duct i2 just rearwardly of the suction nozzle.v It'is apparent from the foregoing that the springs 85 tend to pivot the cleaner body and its associated mechanism about thev pins 92 to lower the nozzle towards the supporting surface. An adjusting shaft it' is journalled in large bosses Iii! projecting inwardly from the opposite side walls 3 and i of the main frame I. This shaft is provided with two flats |32 over the legs of the frame 9i. The shaft IDB extends through wall Ii and supports a lever |83 on its end. A set screw 99 in one boss IGI engages in a groove Iia in the shaft to prevent lateral displacement thereof. A spring washer IM bearsbee tween lever IBIS and wall 4 to retain the shaft in adjusted position frictionally. When the lever 93 is in the dotted line position of Figure 6, the rounded portion of the shaft Iii bears on the frame SI lowering 'the front wheels and raising the nozzle to its high or thick carpet cleaning position shown by dashed lines in Figure 6. When the lever |03 is lowered to the full line position of Figure 6, the dat section IGZ engages the frame 9i which allows the nozzle to be lowered to its low range or thin carpet adjusted position shown solid in Figure 8. Y

The frame SI is provided with projecting arms Ille forwardly of the pivot pins 92. Thevv upper ends of the arms H35 extend through openings IE5@ in the wall 5 and are provided with return bent portions Ill positioned to be engaged: by the anges I on the converter cover plate 'I'I. As shown in Figure 6, the parts m6 engage the flanges EI when the nozzle is in its lowermost position. When the arm H33 is adjusted to the dotted line position of Figure 6, there is a slight clearance between the members 8| and 06. When the cover plate 'I'I is raised, the flanges 8i bear upon the members H15 to rock the frame 9| in a clockwise direction, asl viewed in Figure 6,

tlzuis` lowering; the wheels 91 with respect to the mainframe and raising the nozzle to a high, inoperative position which; will render the rotary agitator inoperativev during oi-the-floor cleaning operation. This condition of the apparatus is illustrated in Figure 7, from which it is apparent' that the nozzle is held in inoperative position when the converting tool 84 is in its operative position. The adjustment of the lever |83 hasl no eiect upon the inter-action between the members 8| and |05, and Vice versa. Whatever the adjusted position of the member |03, the action of the members 8i upon the frame 9| is the same and the machine returns to its adjusted position as determined by the lever |03 as soon` as the cover 11 is returned to closed position.

The hood' B0 is provided with a pair of depending bosses |||l positioned laterally of the air ducts l2 and the fan chamber.

H overlie suitable openings in the wall 6 and receivesecuring studs lll` which pass through the wall E from the bottom and thread into the bosses |10 to pull the hood 60 into iirm engagement with themain frame.

The suction cleaning apparatus described above is particularly characterized by extreme low height, the maximum height of the machine being determined by the maximum height of the individual elements therein, namely the electric drive motor. The longitudinal center line of the machine forms the longitudinal center line dividing the air conduits which rise upwardly from the nozzle adjacent the ends thereof over the iront supporting wheels. The rotational axes of the fan and drive motor structure lie on the longitudinal center line of the main frame. It is also apparent that the space immediately above the nozzle provides a chamber for housing the dirt finder lamp, a chamber for the motor eld winding and a Ventilating air passageway to permit Ventilating air to enter the front of the machine and flow over the lamp and field coil and then through the motor housing. The drive mechanism is housed in a tunnel at the underside of the machine and constitutes a pair of belts extending in opposite directions from the drive .wear due to belt tension. The bottom tunnel belt drive arrangement produces another advantagein that the motor can be constructed to run at the highest speed feasible for driving the rotary agitator in the nozzle and the fan can be a small high-speed type which rotates at a higher speed than the motor as is illustrated in the drawing wherein the motor drive pulley has a greater diameter than the fan pulley 52.

The main frame of the machine is a single element which forms the nozzle, motor chamber, fan chamber, portions of the air ducts and belt tunnel and cooperates with a single additional casting or frame member which completes the air ducts, forms the converter air duct port and closes all portions of the apparatus at the top to form a dirt nder lamp chamber and motor field stack Ventilating channel. The present design has been found to permit reduction of the overall height of the cleaner by almost one-third as compared with more conventional designs in which the motor and fan are in vertically juxtaposed relationship With the suction fan carried by the motor shaft.

lIhe bosses I claim:

1. Suction cleaning apparatus comprising a frame structure dening a suction air cleaning nozzle across the front thereof, a surface agitating device rotatably mounted in said nozzle, a suction air fan having an upwardly facing air inlet portion mounted on said frame for rotation about a vertical axis, an electric motor mounted on said frame for rotation on a vertical axis, said motor and said fan being positioned on said frame in side-by-side relationship with their axes on the longitudinal center line of said frame structure and said motor between said fan and said nozzle, means forming an enclosed tunnel on the underside of said frame extending from said nozzle to a point rearwardly of the axis of said fan, a pair of drive pulleys on said motor positioned in said tunnel, a pulley on said fan in said tunnel, a drive belt in said tunnel extending between one of said motor pulleys and said fan pulley, and a second belt in said tunnel extending between said surface agitating device and the other of said motor pulleys, means in said frame forming a pair of air ducts extending from said nozzle upwardly on opposite sides of said motor to said fan inlet portion and merging adjacent to said fan inlet position, means in said frame forming a converter tool inlet to provide for insertion of a converter tool through the top of said frame into blocking relation to said air ducts.

2. A suction cleaner main frame member comprising a top wall member having depending front and side walls, a depending wall on said frame member spaced rearwardly of and in parallel relation to said depending front wall to form a suction air cleaning nozzle chamber therewith and a depressed front central section of said top wall, means forming a motor chamber depending from said top wall rearwardly of said nozzle Y chamber, means forming a fan chamber depending from said top wall rearwardly of said motor chamber and having an upwardly facing air inlet opening, means forming air ducts rising from said nozzle chamber on opposite sides of said depressed portion of said top wall and said motor chamber, a closure member overlying and secured to said frame, said closure member having portions connected to said air ducts and engaging said top wall to form continuations of said air ducts extending rearwardly of said motor chamber to said air inlet, said closure member having downwardly curved sections at each side thereof at the front overlying and concealing the air duct forming portions of said main frame and a central section overlying said depressed central portion of said main frame top wall to form a lamp chamber air duct therewith.

3. A suction cleaner main frame member comprising a top wall member having depending front and side Walls, a wall member depending from said top wall in spaced relation to said front Wall member to form a downwardly opening nozzle chamber therewith, wall members forming upwardly opening motor and fan chambers depending below said top wall member rearward of said nozzle chamber along the longitudinal center line of said main frame member, said motor chamber being positioned between said nozzle chamber and said fan chamber, upwardly opening channel shaped depressions in said top wall member merging therewith at a point adjacent said fan chamber and extending forwardly along opposite sides of said motor chamber and gradually increasing in depth until such channel shaped depressions extend through the rear wall acinfrei of said nozzle chamber, and a wall member depending from the undersides of said members forming said fan and motor chambers extending from saidrear nozzle ywallr member along opposite sides of the center line of said main frame member to a point beyond the center of said fan chaming a suctionair cleaning nozzle at its front, a

motor on .said frame rearwardly of said nozzle mounted for rotation cna vertical axis, a hood having a substantially horizontal .top Wall over said frame and closely adjacent the top of said.

motor, a fan having-an upwardly facing air inlet mounted on said frame belowsaid hood and rearwardly of said motor for rotation on a vertical axis, means in said hood and said frame forming air ducts rising from seid nozzle and extending on opposite sides of said motor to said fan air inlet beneath said top wall of said hood, and drive means operatively connecting said motor to said fan on the underside of said frame below the level of said air ducts.

5. VIn a suction cleaner, a frame structure having a downwardly facing suction air nozzle at the front thereof, an electric motor and a suction air fan mounted in said framefor rotation on vertical axes on the longitudinal center line of said frame rearwardly of said nozzle, said motor being positioned between said fan and said nozzle, said frame structure including an exhaust duct for said fan directed rearwardly of said frame structure and means formingair ducts extending rearwardly from opposite ends of said nozzle and on opposite sides of said motor to said fan, and means drivingly connecting said motor and said fan.

6. Apparatus according to claim in which said motor includes a eld structure having a wound portion extending forwardly of said frame structure between said air ducts over said nozzle,

lamp is mounted in said frame structure at the front thereof between and below the top portions of said ducts, and said motor includes means for blowing cooling air over said eld structure and said lamp.

Apparatus according to claim 5 including a rotart7 surface cleaning element rotatably mounted said nozzle, means on said frame structure forming a belt tunnel extendingbeneath said fan and said motor to said nozzle and lying between said air ducts, said drive means including a drive belt in said tunnel, a second drive belt in said tunnel drivingly connecting said motor and said rotary cleaning element, a support frame underlying` said frame structure and pivotally attached thereto, said support frame having a pair of arms extending forwardly beneath said frame structure on opposite sides of said belt tunnel, iront wheels on the forward ends of said arms positioned under said air ducts, rear wheels on said support trarne, spring means biasing said frame structure for pivotal movement on said support frame, and adjustable stop means for adjustably limiting pivotal movement of said main trame on said support frame to the cleaning position of said nozzle relative to a supporting surface.

8. Apparatus according to claim '7 including means in said frame structure forming a converter port opening through the top of said frame structure to said fan, a cover for said converter port mounted on said frame structure for movement to ope-n and closed positions, means extending between said support frame and said cover laterally of said air ducts for pivoting said frame structure to raise said nozzle and said rotary cleaning device to an inoperative position when said cover is moved to open position.

9. In a suction cleaner, a one piece frame member having a top wall having front and side walls depending therefrom, a wall depending from said top wall rearwardly of said iront wall 'to form an open bottom nozzle chamber the ewith, a pair of open top wells dependingirom said top wall on the longitudinal center line of said frame member formirug a motor chamber rearwardly of said nozzle chamber and a fan chamber rearwardly of said motor chamber, channels depressed below said top wall opening into opposite ends oi' said nozzle chamber and extending rearwardly therefrom on opposite sides of said motor chamber, said channels decreasing in depth from said nozzle chamber and merging into said top wall adjacent said fan chamber, a flat topped hood overlying said frame member and having a downwardly extending front portion merging into the front wall of said frame member, spaced pairs of depending ribs depending from said hood and each pair engaging said frame on opposite sides of one of said channels to form an air duct therewith, said ribs merging together around the central portion of said fan chamber to form an air inlet chamber common to said air ducts, a fan mounted in said ian chamber for rotation on a vertical axis, and a motor mounted in said motor chamber for rotation on a vertical axis and drivingly connected to said fan.

l0. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which K the portion or'I said top wall positioned between said channels and forwardly oi' said motor chamber is depressed to form a lamp chamber with said hood and a lamp mounted in said lamp chamber' between said air ducts and below said hood.

1l. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said motor has a field structure provided with a wound portion projecting forwardly of said motor chamber into said lampl chamber between said air ducts and rearwardly of said lamp.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 including a rotary surface cleaning member mounted in said nozzle chamber, walls on said frame depending below said motor and fan chambers forming a belt tunnel extending from said nozzle to said fan chamber.

13.111 a suction cleaner, a frame structure having a downwardly opening suction air nozzle extending across the front thereof and an upwardly opening suction air fan chamber positioned rearwardly of said nozzle in spaced relation thereto on the longitudinal center line of said frame structure and having a rearwardly directed air discharge conduit, a suction air fan mounted in said fan chamber for rotation about a vertical axis on the longitudinal center line of said frame structure, an electric motor mounted on said frame structure between said fan and said nozzle for rotation on a vertical axis on said longitudinal center line, said frame structure including means forming air ducts extending from said nozzle rearwardly and upwardly on opposite sides of said motor to the upwardly facing opening of said fan chamber, and means drivingly connecting said motor and said fan.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including a rotary surface cleaning member mounted in said nozzle, a belt tunnel on the underside of said 1l frame structure between said air ducts extending from a point rearwardly of the axis of said fan to said nozzle, said drive means is a belt in said tunnel between said motor and said fan, and a belt in said tunnel drivingly connecting said motor and said rotary cleaning member.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 including a U-shaped member pivotally attached to the underside of said frame structure with the bight portion of said U-shaped member positioned rearwardly of said belt tunnel and the legs of said U-shaped member extending on opposite sides of said belt tunnel beneath said air ducts, rear supporting wheels attached to the bight portion of said U-shaped member, and front supporting wheels attached to the iront portion of said U-shaped member.

16. In a suction cleaner, a one piece main body member having a substantially plane top wall and depending front and side walls, a transverse wall depending from said body member in spaced relation to said front wall to dei-lne an open bottom nozzle chamber therewith, a pair oi open top Wells depending from said top Wall rearwardly of said nozzle chamber along the longitudinal center line of said main body member, a pair of upwardly opening channels depending from said top Wall, said channels extending from opposite ends of said nozzle chamber rearwardly on opposite sides of the forward one of said Wells and progressively decreasing in depth to merge into said top wall adjacent the rear of said weils.

17 Apparatus according to claim 16 including a hood having a substantially iiat upper surface overlying said main body in spaced vrelation thereto and having a downwardly curved front merging into the front wall of said main body, depending walls on the underside of said hood engaging said main body and forming channels mating with the channels in said main body to form air ducts therewith, said depending walls on said hood decreasing in depth .toward the iront of said hood and merging at their rear ends to form an air inlet chamber over the central portion of the rear of said wells.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,533,806 Parker Apr. 14, 1925 1,660,331 Frantz Feb, 28, 1928 2,257,555 Troxler Sept 30, 1941 2,287,911 Snyder June 30, 1942 2,345,623 Oaks Apr. 4, 1944 2,517,670 Humphrey Aug. 8, 1950 2,540,178 Smith Feb. 6, 1951 2,575,554 Langiile Nov, 2o, 1951 

